Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Priceline prices $1B senior notes offeringPriceline announced the pricing of $1B principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 through a private offering to qualified institutional buyers. The notes will pay interest semiannually at a rate of 0.90% per annum. In certain circumstances, the notes may be converted into cash up to their principal amount, and into shares of Priceline common stock and/or cash at Priceline's election for the conversion value above the principal amount based on a conversion rate of 0.4865 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the notes. Priceline estimates that the net proceeds from the offering of notes will be approximately $990M, after deducting estimated fees and expenses. Priceline plans to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to repurchase approximately $147M of its outstanding common stock in privately negotiated, off-market transactions, which may be effected through the initial purchasers of the notes or their affiliates, concurrently with the consummation of the offering. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include repaying outstanding debt, repurchasing additional shares of the company's common stock and corporate acquisitions.

Priceline price target raised to $1,425 from $1,375 at Deutsche BankBlackhawk raised its price target for Priceline shares to $1,425 after upping its estimates following the company's "solid" Q4 results. It keeps a Buy rating on the name.

Priceline price target raised to $1,400 from $1,315 at Pacific CrestPacific Crest said Priceline's better than expected earnings, currency-neutral bookings and roomnights in Q4 show that its underlying growth is robust. The firm raised its price target on the stock to $1,400 and maintains its Outperform rating on the name.

Priceline reports Q4 adjusted EPS $10.85, consensus $10.10Reports Q revenue $1.84B, consensus $1.8B. Reports Q4 gross travel bookings, which refers to the total dollar value, generally inclusive of all taxes and fees, of all travel services purchased by its customers, were $10.7B, an increase of 17% over a year ago, or approximately 23% on a local currency basis.

Priceline plans to acquire Rocketmiles for $20M, WSJ saysPriceline's venture unit plans to buy hotel booker Rocketmiles for roughly $20M, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. The Journal notes that the deal may entice Priceline customers to book hotels through the Priceline network rather than individual hotel sites. Reference Link